Tate Donovan

Tate Buckley Donovan (born September 25, 1963) is an American actor, comedian and television director. He is known for portraying Tom Shayes in Damages, and Jimmy Cooper in The O.C., as well as providing the voice of the title character in the 1997 Disney animated film Hercules and related projects. He starred opposite Sandra Bullock in the 1992 film Love Potion No. 9.

He also had supporting roles in films such as Good Night, and Good Luck and Argo. Donovan also played Brian Sanders in Hostages and White House Chief of Staff Mark Boudreau in 24: Live Another Day. He has been a guest star in a number of television series, notably Friends portraying the character Joshua Burgin. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film Inside Monkey Zetterland.

Donovan has also worked as a producer of 30 for 30 Shorts, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series.

Early life Donovan was born on September 25, 1963, in Tenafly, New Jersey, to John Timothy Donovan, a surgeon, and Eileen Frances (née McAllister). Both his parents were Roman Catholics of Irish descent. Donovan is the youngest of six children. He attended Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, New Jersey, before transferring to Tenafly High School and attending the University of Southern California. He has appeared on television since his teenage years.

Career

Film Donovan's earliest film roles included Kevin Donaldson in SpaceCamp (1986), recovering drug addict Donald Towle in Clean and Sober (1988), 1st Lieutenant Luke Sinclair in Memphis Belle (1990) and Paul Matthews in Love Potion No. 9 (1992). Donovan voiced the title character in the Disney animated film Hercules (1997). Donovan played Jesse Zousmer in the Best Picture nominated film Good Night, and Good Luck (2005). In 2007, Donovan starred in the film Nancy Drew alongside Emma Roberts. Later, he played Bob Anders, one of the key supporting roles in the Oscar-winning film Argo (2012). In 2019, Donovan portrayed Doug Weston in Rocketman.

Television Donovan portrayed Joshua Burgin, the love interest of Rachel Green, for several episodes of Season 4 of Friends. Ironically, he had recently broken up with Jennifer Aniston in real life. He also portrayed 'Cheanie' in 1997, who was a client of and also dated Ally McBeal in season 1 of the show. He later portrayed the priest-son of a large Catholic family in Trinity (1998). He has appeared as a guest star in several television series, such as Magnum, P.I. (1986), The Guardian (2001), Mister Sterling (2003), , and Exposed (2003). He was regular on The O.C. (2003), where he appeared as Jimmy Cooper. From 2007 to 2010, he portrayed Tom Shayes on Damages. In 2005, Donovan began directing episodic television when he directed an episode of The O.C.. In 2007 he guest starred on a season 6 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 2009, he directed an episode of the sixth season of Medium. He also directed two episodes of Damages in its third season and an episode of Nip/Tuck in its sixth season. In 2010, Donovan directed the third episode in the sixth season of Weeds, the tenth episode in the fourth season of Gossip Girl, the fourth episode of the fifth season, and one episode of Damages from the third season. In 2011, Donovan directed the Valentine's Day-themed episode of Glee and the episode "I Kissed a Girl" in the third season. However, after only one season, the series was cancelled. Donovan guest appeared in the series, Red Oaks. Starting in 2017, Donovan appeared in CBS's MacGyver as James MacGyver, the titular character's father.

Stage Donovan starred on stage with Amy Ryan in the Los Angeles production of Rabbit Hole. On Broadway, he played Alan Seymour in the 1994 Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Picnic and appeared in Amy's View with Judi Dench in 1999. Off Broadway, Donovan appeared with Glenn Fitzgerald in the 2001 production of Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan, playing the role of the crooked cop Bill. Donovan has appeared in numerous productions at the Williamstown Theater Festival, including Once in a Lifetime, Under the Blue Sky, and The Glass Menagerie. He has also appeared at the Irish Repertory Theater in New York City. In 2011, he starred with Frances McDormand in the world premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's play Good People at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

Other work Donovan had a regular gig with traditional Irish band the McGuffins, with whom he released an album titled Wake Amusements. He plays the bodhrán and fiddle.

As of May 2011, Donovan voices radio and video advertising for PNC Financial Services and volunteers with the Young Storytellers Program.

Personal life Donovan was in a relationship with Sandra Bullock from 1990 to 1994, and Jennifer Aniston for two and a half years from 1995 to 1998. He later married writer Corinne Kingsbury on a Malibu, California beach in 2005. They divorced in 2008. He married Corry Scheuerman in 2015.

Donovan supported Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.

Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 No Small Affair Bob 1986 SpaceCamp Kevin Donaldson 1988 Clean and Sober Donald Towle Dangerous Curves Chuck Upton 1989 Dead Bang John Burns 1990 Memphis Belle 1st Lt. Luke Sinclair 1992 Little Noises Elliott Inside Monkey Zetterland Brent Zetterland Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Equinox Richie Nunn Love Potion No. 9 Paul Matthews 1993 Ethan Frome Reverend Smith 1994 Holy Matrimony Peter 1997 The Only Thrill Eddie Murder at 1600 Kyle Neill Hercules Hercules Voice 1998 The Thin Pink Line Simon October 22 Peter Waiting for Woody David Short 1999 Hercules: Zero to Hero Hercules Video; voice 2000 G-Men from Hell Mike Mattress 2001 Swordfish Senator Reisman's Assistant Uncredited cameo Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse Hercules Video; voice 2003 Exposed Bob Smith 2005 The Pacifier Howard Plummer Good Night, and Good Luck Jesse Zousmer Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2006 The Lather Effect Will 2007 Shooter Russ Turner Nancy Drew Carson Drew 2009 Wild About Harry Harry Goodhart 2012 Argo Bob Anders Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best CastPalm Springs International Film Festival Award for Best CastScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast 2014 Sun Belt Express Allen King 2015 3 Generations Craig Walker 2016 Manchester by the Sea Hockey Coach Elvis & Nixon H. R. Haldeman 2017 It Happened in L.A. Tom Blame Robert McCarthy The Only Living Boy in New York George The Upside Carter Locke 2018 Blood Fest Dr. Conway GraceCharlie Ellison 2019 Rocketman Doug WestonThe NomadsMark Nolin 2020 Worth Lee Quinn 2021 Respect John Hammond 2023 Ghosted Dad The Holdovers Stanley Clotfelter 2026 Crime 101 Steven Monroe

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Family Ties Clancy Episode 53: "Best Man" 1985 Not My Kid Ricky Television film Hill Street Blues Shamrock Episode: "The Life and Time of Dominic Florio Jr." 1986 Magnum, P.I. R.J. Masters Episode: "Summer School" A Case of Deadly Force Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. Television film 1987 Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder Marc Schreuder-Gentile Miniseries 1988 Vietnam War Story Russell Sommers Nominated – CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie 1990 Rising Son Des Television film 1994 Tales from the Crypt Nelson Episode: "Operation Friendship" 1995–1996 Partners Owen 22 episodes 1996 America's Dream David Television filmSegment: "Long Black Song" 1997 Homicide: Life on the Street Greg Kellerman Episode: "Wu's on First" Ally McBeal Ronald Cheanie 3 episodes 1998 Tempting Fate Dr. Ben Creed Television film Friends Joshua Burgin 5 episodes Trinity Kevin McCallister 3 episodes Godzilla: The Series Lawrence Cohen Voice, episode: "Bird of Paradise" 1998–1999 Hercules Hercules Main voice role 2000 The Outer Limits Tom Seymour Episode: "Glitch" 2001 Max Steel Voice, episode: "Spear-Carriers" House of Mouse Hercules Episode: "Jiminy Cricket" The Legend of Tarzan Gobu Voice, episode: Tarzan and the Enemy Within" 2002 The Guardian Lou Caffey Episode: "The Innocent" 2003 Mister Sterling Barry Reed Television film 2003–2006 The O.C. Jimmy Cooper 39 episodes 2005 Silver Bells Christy Byrne Television film Painkiller Jane Dr. Graham Knight / Lucas Insley Television film 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Commander Luke Nelson Episode: "Rocket Man" 2007–2010 Damages Tom Shayes 36 episodes 2008 The Cleaner Richard Hoffler Episode: "Meet the Joneses" 2009 Head Case Himself Episode: "Tying the Not" 2010 No Ordinary Family Mitch McCutcheon Episode: "Pilot" 2013 Deception Edward Bowers 11 episodes 2013–2014 Hostages Brian Sanders 15 episodes 2014 24: Live Another Day Mark Boudreau 12 episodes 2015 Masters of Sex Graham Episode: "Undue Influence" Red OaksMartin van DiemEpisode: "Doubles 2016 Elementary Wilson Trager Episode: "Alma Matters" Limitless John Episode: "Fundamentals of Naked Portraiture" The Mysteries of LauraDetective Malcolm HarrisEpisode: "The Mystery of the Unknown Caller" The Man in the High Castle George Dixon Season 2 (recurring role) 2017 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Eli Colton Episode: "Net Worth" 2018–2020 MacGyver James MacGyver / OVERSIGHT 12 episodes 2019 Love You to Death Travis Stoller Television film Alternatino with Arturo CastroUnknownEpisode: "The Neighbor" 2023 FBI Jake Reed Episode: "Second Life" 2024 Blue BloodsTerry FriendlyEpisode: "Bad Faith"

+ Television director Year Title Role 2005 The O.C. Episode: "The Game Plan" 2009 Medium Episode: "Pain Killer" 2009–2010 Nip/Tuck 2 episodes 2009–2013 Damages 5 episodes 2010 Weeds Episode: "A Yippity Sippity" The Good Guys Episode: "Old Dogs" 2010–2011 Gossip Girl 2 episodes 2011 Glee 2 episodes 2013 Deception Episode: "Tell Me" 2015 Bloodline Episode: "Part 7" Madam Secretary 2 episodes 2017 The Fosters Episode: "Too Fast, Too Furious" 2020 Hawaii Five-0 Episode: "Nalowale i ke 'ehu o he kai"

+ Video games Year Title Voice role 1997 ''Hercules